Sell for More News is a weekly blog series with interesting information from the world of commercial real estate.
There’s a lot of talk about the amenities needed to attract office tenants. But what do the office users really want?
The answer is simple:
- Natural light (or views of the outdoors)
- Healthy air quality
Until office users get these two requirements…you can keep your treadmill desks, nap pods and “bring your dog to work day.”
The reality is that employees crave something far more fundamental and essential to human needs. In a research poll of 1,614 North American employees, they found that access to natural light and views of the outdoors are the number one attribute of the workplace environment.
This outranked on-site cafeterias, fitness centers and on-site childcare.
Fun fact: Only 4%-8% of Fortune 100 companies offer on-site child care
33% of employees feel they don’t get enough natural light in their workspace. 47% admit they feel tired from the absence of natural light.
These findings support a larger trend of the growing importance of employee well-being. When employees are fulfilled in all aspects of their well-being, this leads to increased employee engagement and increases individual performance.
The desire for workplaces infused with daylight and views may also be due to our increased usage of mobile devices.
Fun fact: American adults spend about four hours on their mobile devices every day
The fundamental health benefits of access to natural light are causing some firms to re-imagine their workspace and tout this as a recruiting tool. A great example of this is an Amazon workspace in downtown Seattle that’s a curated jungle with over 40,000 plants. Amazon relies on natural light, plant life, and healthy activities such as walking to reduce employee stress and improve job satisfaction.
The notion that the creation of the workplace environment is solely a real estate concern is an outdated concept. Today, employers recognize that the workplace environment is now part of the overall employee experience equation and a key lever to attract, engage, and retain top talent.
Fun fact: Workers spend on average 5 hours and 42 minutes at their desk each day
As companies increasingly look to empower their employees to work better and be healthier, it is clear that placing them in office spaces with the optimal amount of natural light should be one of their first considerations.
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About Beau Beach, MBA CCIM
Beau is a tenacious Commercial Real Estate Broker, author and adoring father of four. His clients appreciate his no-nonsense demeanor and his legendary work ethic.
Beau leads Beachwood which is a commercial real estate broker for sellers in the Nashville, Milwaukee and South Florida markets.
He’s the author of the books The 3 Reasons: Why Most Commercial Properties Don’t Sell and True Wealth: What Every Seller Should Know About 1031 Exchanges.
Beau can be reached at 800-721-3287, click to schedule a call or Beau@BeachwoodSells.com